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MEMORIAL ADDRESSES 



LIFE AND CHARACTER 



ILLIAM H, CRAIl 



(Late a Retresentateve f-kom Texas), 



DFXIVERED IN THE 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE, 



M. S , Fifty-fourth Congress, First Session, i S ^ f- I 



PUBLISHED KY (.) R U E R OK CONGRESS 



\Vy\SinN(;TON: 

GOVERNMKNT PRI.NIIM; OKFICE. 
1897. 



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CONTENTS 



Page. 

Prefatory note 5 

Proceedings in the House 7 

Memorial addresses by — 

Mr. Pendleton, of Texas lo 

Mr. W.ALSH, of New York 22 

Mr. Cooper, of Florida 25 

Mr. Cooper, of Texas 27 

Mr. Bell, of Texas 33 

Mr. Eddy, of Minnesota 35 

Mr. McDE-Vrsion, of Tenues.see 40 

Mr. MiLNES, of Michigan 45 

Mr. Crowley, of Texas 48 

Mr. FitzgeR-\ld, of Massachusetts 57 

Mr. MiLLiKEN, of Maine 60 

Mr. Willis, of Delaware 63 

Proceedings in the Senate 69 

Memorial addresses by — 

Mr. Chilton, of Texas 72 

Mr. C.\FFERY, of Louisiana 74 

Mr. Mills, of Texas 76 

3 



PREFATORY NOTE. 



William Henkv Craix was born in Galveston, Tex., 
November 25, 1848. He was graduated from St. Francis 
Xavier College, Xew York City, July i, 1867, and afterwards 
received the degree of A. M. from that institution. He was 
admitted to the bar in February, 187 1, and practiced his profes- 
.sion more or less till his death. He ser\-ed as district attorney 
of his district and as State senator, and was five times elected 
to Congress. 

He died February 10, 1896, and was buried in the Catholic 
cemetery near his home at Cuero, Tex., on the 14th of Februar>' 
following. The funeral sen-ices at the church were under the 
direction of Bishop Forest, who concluded with the following 
words: "O Lord, have mercy on the Honorable William 
Henry Craix, the Catholic American Congressman." 

The eulogies delivered in the House are recorded at pages 
4437-4445 and those of the Senate at pages 5338,5339 of the 
Congressional Record, first session. Fifty-fourth Congress. 

5 



Death of Hon, William H, Grain, 



Proceedings in the House. 

February io, 1896. 

Jklr. SayerS. Mr. Speaker, it becomes my sad duty to 
announce to the House the death of one of its members, 
William H. Grain, a Representative from Texas. I shall 
not detain the House further at this time than to say, that 
I shall ask the House at some future day to pause in its 
deliberations in order to pay tribute to the memory of the 
deceased. For the present I shall content myself with 
asking the adoption of the resolutions which I send to 
the Clerk's desk. 

The Clerk read as follows : 

Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of 
the death of Hon. William Henry Grain, late a Representa- 
tive from the State of Texas. 

Resolved, That a committee of nine members of the House 
be appointed by the Speaker, to act with such Senators as may be 
selected, to attend the funeral of the deceased; that the Sergeant- 
at-Arms of the House shall take order for .superintending the 
funeral of the deceased at his home, and that the neces.sary 
expenses attending the execution of this order shall be paid out 
of the contingent fund of the Hou.se. 

Resolved, That as a mark of respect to Mr. Grain's memory 
the House do now adjourn. 

Resolved, That the Clerk connnunicate the.se resolutions to 
the Senate. 



7 



8 Proceedings in the House. 

Mr. Sayers. I ask the adoption of tlie resolutions just 
read. 

The resolutions were adopted; and the Speaker announced 
the appointment of the followino;-nained members as the 
committee on the part of the House, under tlie resolution: 

Mr. Pendleton, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Kyle, :\Ir. :\IcDearmon, 
Mr. Miles, Mr. Milnes, Mr. Leonard, Mr. Eddy, and Mr. 
Murphy, of Illinois. 

And then, in accordance with the resolutions, the House (at 
12 o'clock and 15 minutes p. m.) adjourned until to-morrow 
at 12 o'clock m. 



MEMORIAL ADDRESSES, 

April 25, 1896. 

Mr. Pendleton. Under the order of the House, eulogies 
were to be delivered on our deceased colleague, Mr. Willl\m 
H. Grain, on Saturday, April 25, commencing at 2.30. I 
ask that the order be read. 

The Clerk read as follows: 

Resolved, That the session ou Saturday, April 25, beginning 
at 2.30 p. m., be devoted to the delivery of eulogies on the late 
William Henry Grain. 






lO Life and Characlcr of William H. Grain. 



Address of Mr. Pendleton. 

Mr. Pendleton. ]\Ir. vSpeaker, it i.s well for the living 
to express their sorrow and to pay the tribute of respect due 
to those who have been our daily associates and friends, 
and who have before us passed over the line which is 
drawn between time and eternity. 

It is a duty demanded by friendship, by affection, and by 
our common humanity; and while engaged in this dut}-, it 
reminds us that we, too, are mortal ; that we, too, are 
hastening to the grave, and that when a few more fleeting 
moments have passed, we will be called into the presence of 
that Creator who has given us existence and opportunity 
and to whom we are responsible for the use of the possibil- 
ities He has placed in our grasp. 

We miss the genial smile, the cordial greeting, the hearty 
handshake of our noble friend. Our hearts are sore, for 
many of us have known him long and well, and none 
knew him but to love him. 

WiLLi.^M H. Cr.\ix was a native Te.xan, born at (lalves- 
ton November 25, 1848; graduated at St. Francis Xavier 
College, New York, in 1867; studied law, and was admitted 
to practice in 1871, at once taking high rank in his profes- 
sion. Possessing fine natural ability, well educated, with 
a genial social disposition, it was natural that he should 
engage in politics. True to his convictions and loyal to 
his friends, he drew to himself a body of earnest supporters, 
who followed his fortunes and made him successful in 
every contest. He was elected first as district attorney, 
then State senator, and in 1884 to the Forty-ninth Con- 



Address of Mr. Pendleton of Texas. Ii 

g^ress, which pl'ace he held by successive reelections until 
his death. 

No man can long retain friends who is unworthy of 
them. On the other hand, he who through a long term of 
years and many trying ordeals secures and holds the respect 
and affection of a large number of the best among his 
fellow-men must possess sterling qualities. 

Mr. Grain was a poor man ; lie did not possess the money- 
making faculty, and he was too honest to barter his con- 
victions for mere gain. Yet when money was needed for 
legitimate political purposes, men — prudent, calculating 
business men — would use their means in his behalf as 
freely as if he were a brother or a son. No man in Texas 
or an^■ other State had a more lo\al, faithful constituency. 
When he announced his candidacy at the beginning of 
political campaign, it was the signal for all the loyal 
enthusiasm and effort of which his friends were capable. 

His death brought grief to many a heart, and he will 
long Ije kindly remembered by the people he served so 
faithfully and well. 

When the news of his death was sent, the grief was deep 
and sincere. Throughout his district (one of the largest in 
Texas) meetings were held at all the principal towns, and 
appropriate resolutions were adopted. 

The Congressional committee which escorted his remains 
to his home was met at Houston, 200 miles distant, by a 
special train, occupied by his friends and neighbors. 

The estimate placed upon him by those who had known 
him longest and best can be better shown by the account 
of the ceremonies at his funeral and burial, taken from the 
San Antonio Express, which I here append as a part of my 
remarks. 



12 Life and CluD'aclcr of William II Craiit. 

THE LAST HONORS PxVID TO CONGRESSMAN CRAIN. 

CuERO, Tex., February 14. 

Tenderh-, and with hearts whose ever}- pulsation was a 
requiem, the people of Cuero to-da\' laid in the bosom of Mother 
Earth all that is mortal of their beloved Congressman, William 
Henry Grain. Upon a hillside, where his children, playing 
in their home, can watch over his rest, they dug his grave, and 
into this they softly lowered his body amid 2,000 drooping 
heads. 

Such a tribute is seldom paid a man. It was de\-oid of gran- 
deur, but rich in simple sincerity. It was a funeral in which all 
• were mourners, a funeral in which the most lowly negro trudged 
feebly along behind the rich equipage, in which white and black, 
gray hairs and kilted tots, contributed their grief to the common 
woe. It was an inspiring spectacle — a lesson that must have 
made its impression upon ever^-one who saw it. 

The shock which the sudden announcement of Mr. Grain's 
death caused made the people of Guero almost insensible of their 
own grief. Dejectedly they hung crape about their stores and 
houses, and omitted no opportunity to show respect to the mem- 
ory of the dead. But it was not until yesterday, as they filed 
slowly around his bier and looked sadly down on the cold and 
rigid face they had known so well, did they become truly sen- 
sible of their grief. Since then this has been truh- a town in 
mourning. From the moment his gray -haired mother and 
stricken wife were led away from the casket until this morning 
at 10 o'clock, when the undertakers drew them aside to shut his 
face off forever from the light of the world, a constant stream 
of people wended .slowly around the catafalque to take the last 
look. It is douljtful if a man, woman, or child in this town 
omitted to pa}' their la.st respects. Gertainly more people than 
are in Guero did this honor, for hundreds were here from a 
distance for this verj- purpose. 

FLORAL TRIBUTES. 

Some brought flowers to lay on his bier; some were but small 
bunches of violets, dropped by a childish hand; others were mag- 
nificent designs, which taxed the art of the florist. Scarce a 



Address of Mr. Pendleton of Texas. 13 

variety of nature's poems was missing. They were banked up 
a foot high on the casket, obscuring from view all save a small 
space of the glass through wlrich the kindly face was visible. 
Then they were placed on tables and on the piano, and finally 
chairs had to be brought in to hold the wealth of floral offerings. 
All of them were pretty, some magnificent in the elaborateness 
of their design, some touching in their winsome simplicit}'. Two 
especially were very striking. 

One was a circle of immortelles, full 2 feet in diameter and 
with a rim not less than 6 inches wide. Around the edge of the 
immaculate immortelles was a faint line of purple, and elevated 
a few inches above was a crosspiece not unlike that to an anchor. 
This, too, was of immortelles, and through it was ' ' Our friend, ' ' 
in purple. It was an offering from the National Association of 
Letter Carriers, who esteemed Mr. Grain their especial friend 
because of his activity in legislation in their behalf. 

Another magnificent piece was presented by Mrs. E. D. L. 
W'ickes, of San Antonio. It was very elaborate in design. 
Between two long slender palms, which gracefully nodded their 
tips together, assuming a shape something like that of a heart, 
was a bank, set incline, of flowers of almost every variety. 
About 2 feet long and a little less in width, it represented Mr. 
Cr.\in's desk in Congress. The outlines of the desk were 
marked by a border of Marechal Neil buds, nestling close to an 
inner border of passionate dark red roses, just opening. The 
body of the desk was of sprays of evergreens and pinks, and in 
the center an open book was formed of hyacinths and pinks. 
L3'ing diagonally across the face of the book was a broken pen, 
the stem being made of delicate ferns. Rising above the whole 
by nearly a foot was a cross formed of Marechal Neils and red 
buds The whole rested on a wire frame made especially for it. 

There were dozens and dozens of other designs, all of them 
pretentious, while there were banks of flowers tied in bunches. 
Among the very many offerings were handsome designs from 
"The Ladies of Edna," Mrs. Richard King, of Corpus Christi, 
Mrs. Robert Kleberg, and Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair Taliaferro, of 
Houston. 

To add to the striking effect of the scene, three candles burned 



14 Life and Character of Williani H. Craiii. 

at the foot of the casket, where sat also a crucifix. The candles 
had been carried by three of Mr. Grain's sons when they made 
their fir.st communion. Indeed, signs of Mr. Grain's religious 
faith were manifest everywhere, for, a consistent Gatholic 
through life, he died surrounded by priests, and with all the 
rites of the Ghurch. The last sacrament was administered to 
him by Father Foley, of Washington, according to Mr. Gorri- 
don, his private secretary, who was with him when he died, and 
who bore his last messages to his stricken wife. 

From the time the body was brought to the house until it 
was taken to the church this morning it was watched by a detail 
of the Merchants' Protective Hose Gompany, of which Mr. 
Gr.\in used to be an active member, and of which he was an 
honorary member at the time of his death. This privilege was 
granted at their own request, for each of them felt an especial 
affection for him. 

CROWDS VIEW THE REMAINS. 

Their vigil was not long, for, save during the middle hours 
of the night, there were always crowds coming to see the bod}-. 
Early this morning, before most people had breakfasted, they 
began to come, and as the day grew so did their numbers. Be- 
fore the sun had driven the chill from the air the line reached 
from the street into the house. 

Most of the callers this morning were out-of-town people, 
who had come in on the early trains and on the special from 
Victoria. There was an unwonted crowd on the streets, and 
had not a subdued air prevaded all, a stranger might have 
thought some festival was about to begin. But as it was, this 
could not be thought, for it was not a moving crowd, but a crowd 
that gathered in knots all over town before closed doors and 
heavy-draped windows. Toward 9 o'clock they began to drift 
toward the residence where the body la}-. 

The residence is a big, old-fashioned two-story house, almost 
square, and destitute of the lea.st fanciful design. It stands in 
one corner of a 2-acre lot, covered with gra.ss. It is but a step 
from the church, and lietween the two places the sidewalks were 
not adequate for the crowds that passed to and fro. 



Address of Mr. Pendleton of Texas. 15 

Before the crowd became very large this iiioniiiig the members 
of both fire companies, in uniform, took position on each side of 
the walk leading from the gate to the door, and kept the line 
moving between the walls which the}' formed. 

'Among the callers about this time were Governor Culberson, 
accompanied b}- Colonel Proctor, Mr. Ed. Kauffman, internal- 
revenue collector of Au.stin, and Mr. Pleasanton, secretary of the 
Democratic State executive committee. State Senator Lawhon 
was also among the callers, as was Mr. Rudolph Kleberg, who 
came to look for the last time on the face of his dead partner. 

Governor Culberson spent but a moment beside the body, and 
then stood out in the hall until the members of the Congres- 
sional escort arrived. They wore long white silk sashes, hung 
diagonally from their shoulders, with black rosettes at the 
shoulder and where they crossed at the button. They also wore 
white silk gloves, and these, with glossy silk tiles and long broad- 
cloth Prince Alberts, made a striking uniform. When they 
arrived. Undertaker Zurhorst, of Washington, who directed the 
ceremonies, pinned sashes on Governor Culberson and Colonel 
Proctor, and they were among the honorary pallbearers. The 
members of the Cuero Turn-Verein, with their silk banner heavily 
draped in black, arrived in a body and passed around the casket. 
Then, it being just 10 o'clock, the cover was screwed over the 
glass plates and the face of William Henry Crain was shut 
from view forever. The flowers which had covered it were taken 
off, re^-ealing a plain but rich casket covered with heavy velvet. 
Save for the ornamentation of the massive silver handle pieces, 
there was no decoration. On the middle was a heavy silver 
plate, on which was engraved : 

WILLIAM HENRY CRAIN. 

November 25, 1848. 
February 10, 1896. 

The active pallbearers were Charles Breeding, Joseph Rice, 
Dr. W. R. Rathbone, John McDonald, Jeif Baker, and Joseph 
Sheppard, all of whom live in Cuero. These gently lifted the 
casket and bore it to the waiting hearse, to which were hitched 
four handsome black honses. 

When the bod>' was deposited in the hearse, the members of 



i6 Life and Character of Williaut H. Craiii. 

the fire compaiij' marched ahead and took a position in front. 
The honorary pallbearers divided on each side of the hearse. 
Next, in carriages, were Mr. Grain's mother, his sister-in-law, 
and Judge Mitchell, of Victoria, and his five children. Mrs. 
Grain did not attend either at the church or the grave, she being 
completely prostrated. Probably a thousand others fell in behind, 
and thus they marched slowly to the church. 

SERVICES .\T THE CHURCH. 

The big crowd which was standing outside the church, being 
unable to get admission, opened a passageway, and when the 
procession was in, closed up and wholly hid it from view. 

At the entrance the casket was met by Bishop Forest and five 
surpliced priests, with crucifix, font, and censer. 

' ' I am the resurrection and the life, ' ' announced the arrival 
of the corpse, and simultaneously from the deep solemn voice of 
the pipe organ came the dirge. Slowh' up the aisle, follow- 
ing the praying clergy, the casket was borne and placed in front 
of the altar. Save that the altar and chancel were dressed in 
midnight black, the church was not draped. High abo\-e the 
altar, though, rested the floral piece which Mrs. Wickes had 
sent. The relatives took the front seats on the left of the ai.sle 
and the pallbearers were immediately opposite. 

Then the crowd was admitted until the church was full, when 
the doors were closed, leaving a thousand outside. 

Requiem mass differs from high mass scarcely in any detail 
except that the music is very solemn, being sung almost in dirge 
time. The Credo, Kyrie, and Offertory are sung, but not the 
Gloria. Father Wyer, of St. Joseph's College, Victoria, was 
the celebrant; Father Kline, of St. Edward's, Austin, was the 
deacon; Father Gerlach, of Myensville, subdeacon, and Father 
Mocyzgambi, of Pana Maria, master of ceremonies. Bishop 
Forest sat on the gospel side of the altar with Father Shehan, 
pastor of the church. Bishop Forest blessed the corpse and 
gave the benediction. 

When the service had been concluded, Father Smith, of vSan 
Antonio, robed only in a black cas.sock, with a crucifix in his 
belt, stepped to the front of the altar and spoke of the dead. 



Address of Mj'. Pc)idlcto)i of Texas. 17 

"Death is an unwelcome visitor," he said, "and, unbidden, 
enters even,- rank of Ufe. It respects neither the righteous nor 
the wicked, neither rich nor poor, and so audacious is it, that 
one daj' it ascended Calvary- and did not come down until it had 
given the fatal blow to God himself, made man. Here before 
us to-day we have evidence of his visit. 

"Among men there is an unbounded ambition. From birth 
they seek to attain the influential positions of Ufe. Many aspire 
to the legislature of their country or of their States, and not a 
few as editors of newspapers aspire to lead the thought of men 
and mold the opinion of the public. From the newspaper 
men we expect that they shall strive to widen and uplift our 
thoughts. To the legislators the people look for such laws as 
will conduce to their happiness, and the one who seeks to rule 
by laws and enactments must, if he be successful, give heed to 
the higher laws of God. 

' ' The deceased was one who considered the responsibilities of 
public life. In tender years, when he thought he was destined 
for public usefulness, he knocked at the door of the Catholic 
Church and asked to be admitted among her children. He was 
soon coiu'inced that she who had witnessed the downfall and 
rise of so many people, who for so long a time had governed 
men and had assisted nations in regaining their lost prestige, 
had a true sense of liberty, which means to do the greatest good 
to the greatest number. She told him that there was a God; 
that there was a Christ, the Son of God. She told him that 
there were two powers independent in their spheres — the spir- 
itual and the physical. She told him also of the necessity of 
making use of this world for the other, of the use of reason and 
religion. She told him all this, and he accepted it, and those 
who may have listened to his reasons for joining that Church 
know that, as he frequently said to himself, he was a ' convinced 
Catholic' He was a convinced Catholic, and, my dear friends, 
he took the teachings which he had received from the Church 
and brought them into the public arena, and became not onh' a 
Catholic but an American, feeling himself at home anywhere in 
this countr)-. He was not afraid to say that he was an Ameri- 
can, and his loyalty to the Church did not suffer. Never did he 
forget that he was a Catholic American. 
H. Doc. 429 2 



i8 Life and Character of II 'illiani //. Crain. 

"A Catholic American the deceased was; and as I have prom- 
ised not to delay you long, I can not better illustrate what I 
have said than to recall to j'our mind the last speech which he 
uttered in the halls of Congress. It was on a bill making an 
appropriation for charitable purposes. The peroration must 
still ring in your ears. Once more he brought the antagonistic 
armies on the fields of thirt)- years ago face to face. You saw 
them light; you saw them fall dead and wounded ; and on those 
fields of carnage he showed 3'ou the Sisters of Charity — white- 
winged ministers of God's mercy — going about the fields hold- 
ing a cup of cold water to .some parched lips, dres.sing the 
wounds of some prostrate soldier, praying beside some fallen 
boy, and closing in death the eyes of those who had been killed. 
In that peroration — in that speech — you can see the Catholic, 
who, fast in the faith of the Church, teaches wisdom and love 
of country. You can see likewise the state.sman, applying the 
Constitution of his countr\-, which demands justice for all. 

"I will conclude by a.sking what he is unable to ask now. 
We have a soul; so had he, but it is now in eternit}-, and he 
realizes now, no doubt, the truth of the doctrines of the Cath- 
olic Church, and one of them is prayer for the dead. And 
to-day and hereafter, when his name comes to j-our memor)-, 
do not forget to say, ' O L,ord, have mercy on the Honorable 
William Henry Crain, the Catholic American Congress- 
man.' " 

Then Bishop Forest passed twice around the casket, once 
.sprinkling it with holy water and once with the censer. Then 
the pallbearers lifted the body, and, following Bi.shop Forest 
and five robed priests, they placed it in the hear.se, and it was 
borne to the cemetery. 

AT THE CEMETERY. 

The cemeter)^ is about half a mile from the church, on a hill- 
side, and in view of the house which was the dead Congressman's 
home. The procession en route passed quite in front of where 
his widow lay sick of grief. The order of march was the same 
as that from the hou.se to the church, except that the honorary 
pallbearers rode in carriages innnediately Ijehind the hear.se. 



Address of Mr. Pendleton of Texas. 19 

The line extended almost from the church to the cemetery. 
Fully two-thirds of those who were at the cemetery went afoot. 

The ceremony at the grave was very brief, consisting of 
Latin chants. When these had been sung, Bishop Forest and 
each of the priests threw a spadeful of earth into the grave. 
Then the active pallbearers, hats in hand, filed singly around 
the grave, and as each pas.sed its head he took the crape from 
his arm and dropped it in. 

The firemen followed, casting the crape and bunches of ever- 
green which they carried into the grave. Then came the hon- 
orary pallbearers, the Congressional escort, and as they passed 
the head of the grave they drew off the white silk gloves from 
their hands and dropped them onto the casket. 

Then the flowers, of which there was an inunense pile, were 

thrown in, and lastly four strong men covered the whole with 

earth and piled it up high to mark the last resting place of 

William Hexry Grain. 

Austin, Tex., Fcbriiaiy 14. 

Out of respect to the memory of the late William Henry 
Grain, whose remains were to-day consigned to the grave in the 
cemetery at Guero, the flags on the State capitol and the Federal 
building have been flying at half-mast. No member of the 
Texas delegation in Gongress was more popular in Austin than 
Mr. Grain, and the news of his death came to his Austin 
friends like a clap of thunder in a clear sky. Generous, impul- 
sive, and brilliant, his was a life that shone like some majestic 
star, dimming those around it by its matchless luster, while his 
genius charmed and cast a spell on all who came beneath its 
influence. Born where the ocean's roar made the first music 
for his infant ears, he seemed to catch that inspiration from the 
boundless deep which moved to mighty deeds. 

The S. S. Prentiss of the South, he knew not what fear meant 
when duty called, for his was the courage of a Richard Goeur de 
Lion and the spirit of a Henry of Navarre. But ' ' he is now at 
rest, and praise and blame fall on his ear alike, now cold in 
death." No more will his voice charm with its magic or arouse 
with its eloquence, and to-day, when the grave received all that 
was mortal of this mighty statesman, this matchless orator, this 



20 Life and Character of William H. Crain. 

friend of liberty, this genial, generous, and impulsive man, all 
nature sighed and a shadow crossed the sun. "Yes, thou art 
gone, gone like a star, that through the firmament shot and 
was lost, in its eccentric course dazzling, perplexing," and 

Look where we may, yet we will look in vain 
To find thy likeness, O immortal Craix! 

A Friend. 

PROCEEDING;. AT K.VCLE PASS. 

Eagle Pass, Tex., February 13. 

The citizens of Eagle Pass, irre.spective of party, met at the 
court-house last night to express the .sentiments of this commu- 
nity on the untimely death of the Honorable William Henry 
Crain, once its honored Representative. 

Judge Winchester Kel.so was elected chairman and Maj. S. M. 
Simmons secretary. 

After eulogistic remarks on the rare abilit}- and charming per- 
sonality of deceased, the following committee was appointed 
to draft resolutions expressing the .sentiments of the meeting: 
J. M. Goggin, J. O. Williamson, W. Kelso, W. A. Fitch, A. H. 
Evans, and C. W. Hartup. 

The committee afterwards presented the following resolutions, 
which were unanimoush' adopted: 

' ' Resolved, First, that this community has heard with profound 
sorrow of the death of our former Representative, the Hon. 
W. H. Crain. 

' ' Second. That in the death of the Hon. W. H. Crain Texas 
has lost one of her noblest and best sons and a nation one of 
her ablest and wisest lawmakers. 

"Third. That the sjnnpathies of this entire communitj' go 
out to the family of the deceased. 

"Fourth. That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to 
the family of the deceased and to the press. ' ' 

While he was sincere in his political opinions and bold in 
asserting them, he never unnecessarih- wounded the feelings 
of those who differed with him, and among his political 
opponents he numbered some of his best personal friends. 



Address of Mr. Pendleton of Texas. 21 

The Republican convention in Aransas County adopted the 
resolutions which I here append : 

Be it resolved by the Republicans of Aransas County in conven- 
tion assembled, That in the death of the Hon. William Henry 
Grain the citizenship of southwest Texas has lost a most pol- 
ished, worthy, and able representative; that the Republicans of 
this district share and feel that los.i^ and join with their Demo- 
cratic friends in mourning the demise of one of Democrac3''s 
brightest minds and one of Republicanism's most honorable and 
talented foes ; that a copy of this resolution be furnished the 
press of the State, and as a mark of our respectful sympathy 
the secretary is also instructed to transmit a copy to the family 
of the deceased. 

He left to mourn his loss a wife, one of the purest and 
noblest women who ever blessed a home, and seven children, 
all bright and sensible, but most of them too young to battle 
with the world. 

The grief-stricken mother must not only bear her burden 
of woe, but must also take the place of both parents. 

Our friend had his faults, and no man more regretted and 
deplored them. None of us is exempt. "To err is human." 

No further seek his merits to disclose, 
Nor draw his frailties from their dread abode 
(There they alike in trembling hope repose). 
The bosom of his Father and his God. 



22 Life and Character of I! 'illiaui H. Craiii. 



Address of Mr. Walsh. 

Mr. Walsh. :Mr. Speaker, the last speech Mr. William 
H. Grain made and the very last words he uttered in this 
House illustrate two traits in his character which it must 
please his friends to recall. 

"The Speaker will take care of me," were his last spoken 
words on this floor, evidently in response to some suggestion 
of a fellow-member not recorded, and they evince that 
courteous respect for authority, coupled with that gentle 
manliness characteristic of him under all circumstances. 

His last speech was for the charitable institutions of the 
District of Columbia. In it he begged us to remember 
those whose tender hands had cooled the fevered brows of 
our brave .soldiers after the disasters of the battlefield, and 
who are now devoting their lives to comforting the afflicted, 
feeding the hungr\-, and harboring the homeless. He 
endeavored to inspire us with the gratitude that was burn- 
ing so intensely in his heart and to impart to us a compassion 
for the unfortunate as deep as his own. 

These qualities, with others his friends will well remem- 
ber, bring him so near the great English thinker's estimate 
of a gentleman that I may be pardoned for quoting his 
words. It was Ruskin who said that "a gentleman's first 
characteristic is that fineness of structure in the body 
which renders it capable of the most delicate sensations, and 
of structure in the mind which renders it capable of the 
most delicate sympathies — one may say, fineness of nature. 
That is, of course, compatible with heroic bodily strength 



Address of Mr. Walsh of New York. 23 

and mental firmness. In fact, heroic strength is not con- 
ceivable without such delicacy. Elephantine strength may 
drive its way through a forest and feel no touch of the 
boughs, but the white skin of Homer's Atridse would have 
felt a bent rose leaf, yet subdue its feeling in glow of battle 
and behave itself like iron." 

Who that saw his manly form and knew its sensitive 
nature; who that felt the generous warmth of his friend- 
ship, his uniform courtesy, the brilliance of his mental 
make-up and his tender s)-mpathies, can fail to appreciate in 
his memory the man and the gentleman. 

I will leave to those who knew him longer — who are more 
familiar with his political career — the opportunity to dwell 
on the causes of his success. Yet it is proper to recall the 
fact that he pursued his college career in a college situated 
within the limits of the district which I have the honor to 
represent, and while there he lived in the neighborhood 
where I have spent my life. 

When we heard of his nomination for Congress in far- 
away Texas — his home State — we felt as keen an interest 
in his success as might any of his constituents; for Avhile 
with us in the years when he was budding into manhood, 
when he was developing his best qualities of mind and 
heart, he became endeared to us, and when he bade us fare- 
well, lie left behind him a reputation for brightness of mind 
and cleanness of heart and generosity of soul which earned 
for him our ardent wishes for his future happiness and 
prosperity, and up to tlie very hour of his death we have 
been far from indifferent to his success. 

We looked, in the nature of things, for a longer life, 
but the Almighty Providence, whose wisdom none will 
question, decreed the contrar}'. 



24 L.ifc nnd Character of William H. Craui. 

For his friends in New York who were the companions 
of his early manhood, I pay this last tribute of respect to 
his memory. 

For nnself, I can only say that my association with him 
here was more than agreeable, and all too short. If there 
were any faults in his character, they lie buried with his 
body beneath the "sacred grass and the saddened flowers." 

His charming personality, his scholarly attainments, his 
noble soul, his generous impulses, his tender sympathies, 
and his brightness of mind will live in our memories as 
the characteristics which we honored and loved in him and 
which should endure. May he rest in peace. 



Address of Mr. Cooper of Florida. 25 



ADDRESS OF Mr, Cooper. 

Mr. Cooper, of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I shall not attempt 
any set speech or any formal enlogy of 'Sir. William H. 
Grain. I wish merely to ntter a few words, however inade- 
qnate, expressive of the esteem and the admiration which I 
feel for many of the qualities of the man. No one could 
come in contact with him without appreciating the fact 
that he was a cultivated gentleman. His manners were 
graceful, easy, simple, and unaffected. They came, as the 
best manners always do, from the heart within the man. 
One of his most notable characteristics was generosity. He 
was generous not merely in pecuniary matters, but gener- 
ous of his time, generous of his information, generous of 
efforts for others, generous in all his intercourse with his 
associates and his fellow-men. Another admirable quality 
of the man was frankness. Whatever faults he had were 
apparent to all. He wore his heart upon his sleeve. There 
was naught of hypocrisv in his make-up. He possessed a 
fine mind, highly cultivated. He had as wide a fund of 
general information as most men in this House, and upon 
some special subjects he possessed as deep and as accurate 
information as any man on this floor, if not more. I did 
not know him as long as many here. ]\Iy acquaintance 
with him began in the Fifty-third Congress, but I knew him 
long enough to appreciate many of his attractive, high, and 
noble qualities. 

He was a man of sincere religious convictions, deeply 
attached to his Church. Like most men who have mingled 
much with the world, its temptations, and its distractions. 



26 Life and Character of Willia lit H. train . 

he may not always have reached his own ideal in a strict 
following of his own religious convictions, but his reverence 
for them was always deep and sincere. The last speech he 
made upon the floor of this House was in their defense, and 
among the last words he uttered was a deeply touching trib- 
ute to those pure and lovely devotees and ministrants of 
religion, the sisterhoods of the Catholic Church ; and, indeed, 
it is a matter of sincere gratification to his friends to know 
that in his last hours he had the ministrations and the con- 
solations of his religion. But words avail not; he is gone. 
May earth rest lightly and the grass grow green above him, 
for it is a noble heart that sleeps beneath. 



Address of Mr. Cooper of Texas. 27 



ADDRESS OF Mr. Cooper. 

Mr. Cooper, of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is not my pur- 
pose to detail the various incidents which collectively con- 
stitute the life history of the late member of this body 
whose memor\- we have met here to-day to honor. Of his 
biography others who ha\'e already spoken or who may yet 
speak are more competent to give account. Suffice it for 
me to say that, contrary to popular impression, the men who 
have made the most valuable contributions to the welfare 
of the human race, the men whose lives have most strongly 
influenced the current of contemporary history — the really 
great men of the world — -were not always, perhaps not gen- 
erally, those whose lives contained the most remarkable 
incident, the most sensational episode, the most wonderful 
vicissitude. 

Our brother is gone. "The dull, cold ear of death" 
shall be his till it responds to the great roll call of the ages 
in the hour of the Last Judgment. Nothing that we may- 
say or leave unsaid here to-day can or will be heard or 
recognized by him. Therefore we speak not to the dead, 
but to the living. 

The life of our departed friend and fellow-legislator offers 
us some useful lessons to be applied in the shaping of our 
own personal life work. 

Born a Texan, he spent his whole life among the people 
of his native State, and was at one time the only native- 
born Texan in her delegation in the National Congress. 



28 Life and Character of William H. Grain. 

Though a part of his youth was spent in the commercial 
metropolis of America, surrounded by all the alluring attrac- 
tions of the most advanced civilization of the Western 
World, yet he exhibited the sturdiness of his patriotism 
and love for his native State by returning to her borders at 
the close of his collegiate career and engaging in the ardu- 
ous and exacting labors of his profession, which ultimately 
brought him distinction among his people. While he might 
have imitated the example of many others h\ yielding to 
the blandishments of life in the progressive East, and might 
have thus secured a high measure of success amid its gayer 
and richer environment, he preferred to cast his lot with 
his people in the lonely and sparsely settled plains of the 
Gulf Coast ; and there he helped them to build the founda- 
tions of that great Commonwealth whose progress has 
awakened the admiration and yet excited the apprehension 
of the older States of the East, and whose wonderful growth 
has threatened their political supremacy. 

As he made his home, by choice, with the poor and 
humble (though proud, brave, and adventurous) settlers in a 
new land, where ambition and self-interest could find little 
food for hope, so he was always a consistent exponent of 
that high chivalry that pleads for the helpless, champions 
the fallen, and gives its sympathy and effort to those who 
are needy rather than to those who are able to repay with 
interest. In him the poor found a friend, the destitute a 
benefactor, the oppressed a defender. These are the quali- 
ties that appeal most strongly to the hearts of the masses. 
Xerxes, panoplied in golden armor, attended by a congress 
of subservient and tributary kings, and surrounded by all 
the paraphernalia and proofs of earthly power, might well 
excite the wonder or even the admiration of the world of 



Address of Mr. Cooper of Texas. 29 

warriors that gathered around him as he stood upon the 
shores of the Bosphorus in the long ago and cLaimed domin- 
ion over the two continents that its waters divided ; but the 
picture of Stonewall Jackson sleeping on a tattered blanket 
in a tentless field and rising at morn to share in the break- 
fast of corn bread and rye coffee that constituted the fare of 
his poorest soldiers— that submergence of self in the service 
of a great cause — reaches at once to the hearts of his fol- 
lowers on the fields of blood and his admirers throughout the 
world wherever men read history and admire unselfishness. 
Whatever else may be said of democracy, whatever other 
deductions may be made from its workings, we must con- 
cede that where it truly exists no man can long retain high 
public station unless he possess some of the great qualities 
that entitle men to success. Our deceased friend easily kept 
his place in this body and in the affections of his people 
year after year, campaign after campaign, and the secret of 
his popularity was his brilliancy of thought, his eloquence 
of speech, his magnetic influence, and his chivalric charac- 
ter. In this day of greed and selfishness this is no mean 
tribute to the memory of any man when measured by the 
higher standards of human worth. 

In addition to his nobler qualities of mind and heart, our 
friend had his weaknesses, as who of us— who, anywhere — 
has not? It is neither true to fact nor any particular honor 
to the dead to deny, after death, those frailties that the dead 
themselves did not and would not deny or extenuate while 
living. He who would teach us that our deceased friend 
had no weaknesses, felt no temptations, stumbled not in his 
march through the allurements of life, would lift him at 
once above the plane of mortal men and above that sym- 
path>- which the world is ever ready to accord to the noble, 



30 Life and Character of U iniaiii H. Crain. 

struggling, yielding, suffering weak. Of our departed 
friend it might well be said : 

Is it true, O Christ in Heaven, 

That the strongest suffer most? 
That the noblest wander farthest. 

And most hopelessly are lost? 

But for him let it be said that it is a grander triumph for 
the man of warm and general impulses to walk, even with 
uncertain and stumbling steps, than it is for the cold, cyn- 
ical, unfeeling man to pursue the path of right without 
deviation, because his icy nature makes him incapable of 
temptation. It is one of the most beautiful, because one 
of the most comforting, thoughts connected with Christian 
theology that when all the individuals of the human race 
shall be convened in one mighty throng around the Throne 
of God at the Last Judgment, we shall all be judged by 
One who "took ui^on himself our weaknesses and bore our 
infirmities," One who trod in the footsteps of our erring 
life, and who, though He yielded not to temptation even 
when offered all the kingdoms of this world, yet knew from 
experience the power of the influences that entice men 
awa}- from the right. 

If, then, we hope to enjoy charity of judgment from the 
Son of Man when otir life work shall be unrolled before 
the gaze of Omniscience, how much more meet is it that 
with none but loving hands and broad charity should we 
lift the veil that co\-ers from the eyes of the world the 
frailties of our dead brother. Without seeking to deny or 
minimize his shortcomings, let us speak of them in tones 
of sympathy and regret, and with a felt, even if unspoken, 
prayer that we may profit by his errors and be saved from 
the inherited weaknesses of our own natures-. 



Address of Mr. Cooper of Texas. 31 

While our friend ina>- not have attained international 
celebrity, let us not conclude that his life was not a success. 
The true measure of success is the work that we do for the 
generations to come — for posterit)-, for humanity. He has 
not lived in vain who has filled the full measure of his 
opportunities, who has justly exercised his means of serv- 
ino- his fellow-man, who has contributed something to the 
progress and happiness of humanity. In the laboriously 
framed fabric of national greatness, woven and interwoven 
with the threads of complicated purposes, conflicting inter- 
ests, and mutual concession, no one man's work is easily 
separated from that of his fellows. Where so many have 
contributed to a nation's greatness and a nation's glory, it is 
difficult to mete out to each actor his proportionate share of 
credit for what it is or blame for what it is not; but the 
statutes of this country and the personal observation of 
man\- members of this body show that our friend and fellow- 
legislator played no unimportant part in the accomplish- 
ment of much that was and is good. His eloquent voice 
was heard and his personal vote and general influence were 
cast for what he believed to be the greatest good of his 
people and his country. Along the stream of his life work 
lie no stupendous cataracts whose reverberations tell the 
world he lived; but the current of his influence moved 
quietly and steadily on toward the achievement of his aim — 
the ocean of his country's glor\- and greatness. 

Let us honor our dead by imitating his fidelity to trust 
and his chivalry of soul. Let us utilize his life even in his 
death bv drawing from it lessons that may ennoble our own 
lives. Duty above selfishness, the use for the public good 
of the opportunities given us by the voice of the people — 
let these be our aims. And in the execution of these high 



32 Life and Character of William H. Grain. 

aims may we find iu our entire consecration to public duty 
the surest safeguard against the temptations that beset him 
and us, and as a result of this consecration may we secure 
the highest reward attainable for duty well performed — the 
approbation of conscience and the deserved applause of the 
people we are here to represent. 



Address of Mr. Bell of Texas. 33 



ADDRESS OF Mr. Bell. 

Mr. Bell, of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we to-day pay tribute 
to the memory of one who ha.s been called from among us 
in the full vigor of matured manhood, and who it might 
reasonably have been expected would have been spared to 
his family, his friends, and his country for many years. 
He had already accomplished much, but apparently he had 
barely reached the beginning of the broader career of use- 
fulness and honor for which he seemed destined and for 
which he was so well fitted. 

The beginning of my personal acquaintance with Mr. 
William Henry Grain was of recent date, but I had long 
known of him as one of the gifted sons of his native State, 
upon which he reflected so much credit, whom all delighted 
to honor, and in whose well-earned triumphs we took a 
just pride. 

At an age 'at which most lawyers are regarded as mere 
tyros in the profession, Mr. Crain became the prosecuting 
attorney of his district, and by his courteous demeanor, his 
fair and honorable conduct, and the vigorous and eminently 
successful manner in which he discharged the duties incum- 
bent upon him, he established himself in the confidence and 
esteem and gained a hold upon the affection of the people of 
his section of the State which was never impaired. 

As a State senator, he soon became widely known as a 
man of dauntless courage, of tireless energy, of unquestion- 
able integrity, of excellent judgment, and as the most elo- 
quent speaker and readiest debater among the young leaders 
who were then forging to the front; and it was not strange 
that the members of his political party, which had suffered 
H. Doc. 429 3 



34 J^tf^ '^'''^ Character of JViniaiii H. Craiii. 

defeat in his Congressional district at the previous election, 
should have turned instinctively to him as the one person 
to bear their banner, and to whom they were willing to 
intrust the task of restoring their supremacy. He was 
nominated without opposition as the candidate of his party, 
and was triumphantly elected a member of the Forty-ninth 
Congress and of each succeeding one. 

Of his work here, much has been and more might be said. 
The courtly manners and chivalrous courtesy which had 
characterized him in all the walks of life, the felicity with 
which he could express himself in debate, his pleasing 
address and happy faculty of forming acquaintances and 
making friends, soon caused Mr. Crain to become one of 
the best and most favorably known members of this body. 

Why he should have been called away in the very prime 
of life, we can not understand. We can only deplore his 
loss and extend to his bereaved wife and fatherless children 
our sympathy. While we realize that no words of ours 
can 

Soothe the dull, cold ear of death, 

it will be some consolation to them to know that others 
share their sorrow; that others who knew him far from 
home and kindred had learned to love him, and that they 
cherish his memory. 

To us, the comrades in his labors, his sudden and unex- 
pected death should teach a solemn lesson. We are 
reminded that we, too, must respond to the summons to 
join the innumerable caravan, and that we should prepare 
for a higher, nobler, better, and eternal life. 



Address of Mr. Eddy of Minnesota. 35 



ADDRESS OF Mr, Eddy, 

Mr. Eddy. Mr. Speaker, "In the midst of life we are in 
death." The truth of the quotation just uttered was never 
more strikingly illustrated than in the fate of the man to 
whose memory we to-day do honor. 

One day standing on the iloor of this House in the full 
flush of vigorous manhood, his voice ringing forth like a 
clarion in proclamation of what he believed was right, jus- 
tice, and for the best interests of humanity, the next report 
was inwafted upon the unwilling ears of his associates here 
that he was in the grasp of fell disease, and yet the next 
and the black, somber draping of his accustomed seat, sur- 
mounted by a white wreath of flowerets, symbolical of hope, 
proclaimed to us in language impressively eloquent by its 
very silence that the stalwart frame was cold in death, that 
the eloquent voice was for aye hushed, and that the immor- 
tal spirit of William Henry Cr.yix had passed from the 
brief here into the never-ending hereafter, and that as a 
fellow-mortal in earthly avocation we should meet and 
ereet him no more forever. 

The story of his life's vicissitudes is eventful and inter- 
esting, but I leave its recital to those who were more inti- 
mately associated with him in his career than I. 

He was a leader among men, but the task of describing 
his great qualities of leadership I leave to those who have 
followed where he led in the great battle of politics. 

He was an orator bounteously endowed by nature with 
matchless powers of eloquence, ripened almost into perfec- 
tion by years of training and experience in public life, but 



36 Life and Character of IVilliam H. Crain. 

to those who have many times and often listened to his 
ringing sentences I leave the task of describing his wonder- 
ful abilities and powers as an orator. 

Mr. Crain was to nie a stranger. In the brief time we 
were associates on the floor of this House I never had the 
honor of addressing to him a single word in conversation 
or of grasping his hand in an introductory clasp. 

But scenes and pictures oftentimes appear upon the pan- 
orama of passing events that enable a stranger instantane- 
ously to judge the character of a fellow-stranger in certain 
lines better, far better and more accurately, than a lifetime 
of intimate acquaintance would enable him to judge, and 
such an opportunity was afforded me to so judge him. 

The only public utterance that I ever heard Mr. Crane 
make was when he stood up in his place and painted such 
a vivid word picture of battle that we could hear the rattle 
of the drum, the blare of the trumpet, the shrill notes of 
the bugle, and the scream of the fife cheering men on to 
carnage, and the deep resonant tones of commanding officers 
as they urged their men to stand firm. 

So vivid was the picture that we could see long lines of 
infantry marching and countermarching; could see the 
smoke of their muskets and hear the whistle of bullets as 
they sped on their mission of death. We could see batteries 
of artillery galloping into position with almost automatic 
precision, could hear the reverberating roar of the pieces as 
they belched forth their awful missiles of annihilation, hear 
the rattle of grape and canister, the crash of solid shot, and 
the wild shriek of the shell. Spellbound by his magic elo- 
quence, we saw the charging squadrons of horsemen meet 
in battle shock, and could hear the very clash of steel as 
saber clanked against saber in the terrible music of death. 



Address of Mi: Eddy of Minnesota. 37 

Then, with the hand of a master, he shifted the scenes, 
and we beheld with horror the awful ravages of war, after 
deadh- battle, where Americans had met Americans on the 
red field of conflict in fratricidal strife, and by the pale moon- 
light, so vivid was the description, we could see rows upon 
rows of dead warriors and thousands of shot-torn, saber- 
slashed, mangled, and wounded fellow-men lying on the 
carnage-swept field. 

Then his voice sank into the pathos of inexpressible ten- 
derness as he described, with such startling reality that 
before our eyes we could see them there, the black-robed 
Sisters, ministering angels of the Church he loved so well, 
flitting to and fro among the stricken ones, closing the eyes 
of the dead, moistening the lips of the dying, and band- 
aging the torn and mangled with women's tender fingers — 
black-robed Sisters, with vision keen as eagle's to discover 
suffering, but with eyes so stricken with the color-blindness 
of heavenly charity that they were utterly unable to discover 
whether the recipients of their kindly ministrations wore 
the gray of the Confederacy or the blue of the Union. 

And when he closed with splendid peroration, the curtains 
of his secret soul were rolled away, and a grand and noble 
trait of character stood revealed in Mr. Crain, the most 
godlike trait that mortal man can possess — a deep and abid- 
ing love for his fellow-man and a boundless sympathy for 
oppressed humanity. 

And when the funeral train bearing all that was mortal 
of the Congressman, speeding southward, reached the 
borders of his native State, evidences of his love and sym- 
pathy for his fellow-man multiplied — for love and sympathy 
always beget love and sympathy in return — and the uncov- 
ered crowds that watched the cortege pass by bore upon 



38 Life and Character of William H. Grain. 

their faces that wan and disconsolate expression that one 
sees upon the faces of those who stand by the grave of a 
friend. 

When we reached the beautiful city of Cuero, his home 
for many years, the throng of people that so sadly awaited 
our arrival bore uj^on their faces that look of sad and deso- 
late loneliness that one sees upon the faces of those who 
have lost one dearer than a friend. 

Loving hands bore him from the funeral train to liis 
modest residence, and there in state he lay ; and multitudes 
of people — white, black, rich, poor, of all conditions of life, 
old men and women tottering on staves, men and women in 
life's autumn time, husbands and wives in the full vigor of 
noontide existence, youths and maidens, little children led 
by the hand — came to look once more and for the last time 
upon the features of him they had loved and honored. No 
idle motive of curiosity prompted them thus to come. 
Grief — deep, all-pervading grief — was the impelling force 
that moved them to look again upon him tljey loved so 
well in life. Sorrow, heartfelt sorrow, was everywhere 
manifest, and the tears of those who knew him longest and 
knew him best that that da}- fell upon his casket constituted 
a eulogy more eloquent than mortal lips can utter. 

As I gazed upon the sorrow-stricken features of those 
who stood around his bier the beautiful poem of Leigh 
Hunt came to my mind: 

Abou Ben ,\dhern I may his tribe increase ! ) 
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, 
And saw within the moonlight of his room, 
Making it rich, and like a lilly in bloom, 
An angel wTiting in a book of gold. 
Exceeding peace had made Ben -A.dhem bold. 
And to the presence in the room he said : 
" What writest thou?" The vision raised its head, 



Address ofAfr. Eddy of MiiDicsota. 39 

And with a look made all of sweet accord, 

Answered "The names of those who love the Lord." 

"And is mine one?" asked Abou. "Nay, not so," 

Replied the angel. .\bou spoke more low, 

But cheerily still, and said : "I pray thee, then, 

Write me as one who loves his fellow-men." 

The angel -wTote and vanished. The next night 

It came again with a great wakening light 

And showed the names of those whom love of God had blest, 

And lo ! Ben Adhem's name led all the re.st. 

1 would not have you think that ^Ir. Crain was a perfect 
man. No dottbt he had failings many, for he was mortal ; 
no doubt he had faults numerous, for he was, like us, human. 
But when I saw the fond remembrance in which he was 
held bv friends and neighbors, I dottbted not but that in 
God's great ledger, the only account book where mistakes 
are never made and where errors never creep in, over 
against the name of William Henry Crain, written in 
letters of brightest gold, were the words: "He loved his 
fellow-men." 

After brief but impressive services in the church where, 
with wife and loved ones, he oft had worshiped, he was 
borne, sadly borne, to burial. Deep in the bosom of his 
much-loved State they laid him down to rest and to await 
the Archangel's summons. Peace, peace to his ashes. 

No stately column need be raised to perpetuate his mem- 
ory among the sons of Texas or their descendants. In the 
hearts of Texans he has left a monument much more last- 
ing than marble tomb or time-enduring granite shaft. 



40 Lijc and Character of Willia»i H. Craiii. 



ADDRESS OF MR, McDEARMON. 

Mr. McDearmon. Mr. Speaker, it was not my privilege 
to enjoy an intimate social acqnaintance with the distin- 
guished gentleman whose life and character we are consid- 
ering. I had the honor to serve with him in the Fifty-third 
Congress and until his death in this, but my personal asso- 
ciations with him did not extend beyond a passing acquaint- 
ance and a few casual conversations. I was, however, 
attracted by his courtly bearing, knightly courtesy, and 
distinguished mien upon my first entrance into this body 
as a member, and I soon discovered that he was one of the 
leading spirits of the exceptionally able body of men, as a 
whole, who composed the membership of this House in 
the Fifty-third Congress. His commanding appearance, 
melodious voice, polished manner, vigorous and impas- 
sioned but faultlessh- classical language, his clear, logical, 
and forceful arguments, always commanded the closest 
attention of the House, challenging the respect of his 
political opponents, the delight and pride of his friends, 
and the admiration and applause of all. William H. 
Grain was, in the true sense of the word, an orator. He 
possessed a vivid and towering imagination. His mind 
had been well trained in his early youth, and when I first 
knew him it had become richly laden with varied and valu- 
able information. He had drunk deep at the fountain of 
knowledge and was endowed with its rarest fruits. His 
ability to clothe the most commonplace thoughts in the 
choicest rhetoric was striking and remarkable. His long 



Address of Mr. McDcarmon of Tennessee. 41 

experience as a member of this bod)- and his familiarity 
with public affairs, coupled with his general information, 
enabled him to bear a leading and honorable part in all of 
the great discussions which made the Fifty-third Congress 
memorable. 

He never failed to illumine any si:bject which he debated 
or to instruct and enlighten his hearers with his incisive 
and lucid arguments or to entrance them with his matchless 
eloqtience. While my social intercourse with him was 
imited, as I have stated, yet I recall several little incidents 
with which he was connected which gave me an insisfht 
into his character, which, together with what I have learned 
about him since his death, convinces me that he was a man 
of the most scrupulous integrity and chivalric honor, and 
that his lofty soul was incapable of a low thought or an 
ignoble act. He impressed me as being a man of superb 
moral and physical courage; a high-spirited, cultured, dig- 
nified, and accomplished gentleman in every sense of that 
too often abused term. 

When the proceedings of this House were interrupted 
last Februar\- by the solemn and startling announcement 
that William H. Grain, who had so recently been an 
active and prominent participant in the discussion of the 
grave questions which then engaged our attention, was dead, 
that he had been suddenly cut down in the prime of his 
splendid manhood, had journeyed to that "undiscovered 
country from whose bourn no traveler returns," we had 
another and a deeply impressive reminder and admonition 
that we are all sojourners here, and that sooner or later we 
too must lay down our life's work, whether finished or 
unfinished, perchance as abruptly and unexpectedly as 
did he. 



42 Life and Character of IVi/liaiii H. Craiii. 

I was unusually shocked by the announcement of l\lr. 
Grain's death, and was very soon thereafter designated as 
one of the committee appointed by the Chair to escort his 
remains to his far-off home in southern Texas. 

Our long, sad journey on the funeral train, deeply 
draped in the gloomy habiliments of death, in its rapid 
flight through the great Commonwealths of Old Virginia, 
the two Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas, 
ever and anon flitting past historic spots, where in the not 
long ago great armies of Americans contended in bloody 
strife with brother Americans; the lamentations of the 
stricken widow and orphans; the sweetly solemn and pecul- 
iarly impressive ceremonies and sermon by the Catholic 
clergy in the church where he was accustomed to worship, 
and by the open grave on the hillside where we left our 
brother asleep, all conspired to awaken in my mind the 
deepest emotions of sympathy for those who wept, and to 
lead me to contemplate the life and character of him whose 
remains it became my sad duty to help to bury. The many 
noble traits of character and manly attributes which char- 
acterized our departed brother have been lovingly described 
and eloquently portrayed by his distinguished colleagues, 
whose good fortune it was to know him as a companion 
and to love him as a friend. His brilliant achievements as 
a statesman and valuable public services to his State and to 
the nation during his long and honorable career as a mem- 
ber of this House have been graphically and faithfully 
recounted by those who served with him from his advent 
into public life, and who witnessed his labors and rejoiced 
at his glorious triumphs. 

But his votes and public utterances are transcribed in the 
imperishable archi\-es of the several Congresses in whose 



Address of Mr. McDtariiioii of Tennessee. 43 

proceedings he took part. They belong to his country and 
are a part of its heritage, and will be interwoven into its 
glorious history. In all the important measures which 
have engaged the attention of Congress during the last 
twelve vears, many of which have materially affected the 
welfare and destiny of our country, his influence has been 
felt and his voice has been heard in advocacy of the right 
and in condemnation of the wrong. I doubt whether the 
speeches of any other of the many able and eloquent states- 
men whose footprints are interspersed through the volumes 
of the Congressional Record will, in beauty and purity of 
diction, rhetorical graces and polish, together with vigorous 
arguments and sound logic, surpass those of Mr. Crain. 
Generations that are to follow will take our places when 
we are gone and will pass impartial judgment upon his 
actions and ours by the transcript of our spoken words and 
registered votes as we leave them upon record. 

;\Ir. Craix has had his entrance and his exit. His gentle 
spirit, which made others happier by its charming influence, 
came upon earth, dwelt among men for a brief season, and 
departed as mysteriously as it came. The light of his 
genius dazzled and bewitched us during his sojourn, and 
when it was extinguished, the world seemed darker for a 
time. 

He was fondly loved by those who knew him intimately. 
Throngs of his constituents and friends from far and near, 
including the governor of the State and his staff, came on 
special trains to testify of their grief and to mourn at the 
grave of their friend and leader. The entire population of 
his home, the beautiful and picturesque city of Cuero, paid 
affectionate tribute to his memory by attending en masse 
his funeral, while many tears and sobs testified that true 



44 Life and Character of William H. Grain. 

hearts sincerely mourned the death of one they fondly loved. 
I feel, Mr. Speaker, that this House has lost a valuable and 
able member, the country a loyal and patriotic citizen, and 
the world a noble man by the death of William H. Grain. 
I reverently offer this poor tribute to his memory. Peace 
to his ashes. 



Address of Mr. Milncs of Michigan. 45 



Address of Mr. Milnes. 

Mr. Milnes. Mr. Speaker, it became my sad duty, by your 
appointment, to accompany the remains of the Honorable 
William H. Grain to their last resting place, to his home 
in Texas, there to be given a Christian bnrial among his 
relatives and friends, and I have now been asked to snbmit 
a few remarks in respect to his memory. It was not my 
pleasure to be intimately acquainted with our deceased 
brother. In fact, I never had the pleasure of being for- 
mally introduced to him, and therefore can not say as 
much of his personality, as can those who knew him well 
and were his associates in his long and honorable career in 
this body. 

That he was a man of great learning and ability, ever 
ready to serve his constituents and fight manfully for their 
rights, is fully evidenced by the official records of this 
House. That his services were duly appreciated by his 
constituents his return to Congress for so many consecutive 
terms fully testifies. 

One of the best things that can be said of any man is 
that those who knew him best — those among whom he was 
born and grew up to manhood, tho.se among whom and 
with whom he has sjjent his whole life — loved him, honored 
him, and believed him worthy of ever)- confidence and 
trust. And this was emphatically the case with him whose 
memory we commemorate to-day. 

Mr. Crain was a native of the great State of Texas. He 
grew up on its mighty plains, in its genial climate, and 
among the liberty-loving and generous people of that great 



46 Life and Character of William II. Cri 



am. 



State, be]o\-ed and honored b>- all its jjeople. It was they 
who recognized his worth and abilit}-; it was the\- who 
elected him district attorney while yet a \-ery young man. 
It was his neighbors and friends who sent him to represent 
them in the senate of his native State at the age of 2S 
years. It was those who knew him and appreciated his 
great learning and ability who sent him to represent them 
in this Hall during the Forty-ninth Congress and returned 
him at every Congressional election thereafter up to the 
present. No man served his constituency more loyally than 
he. No man in either House of Congress was more beloved 
than he who has gone to his last resting place. 

That he had his faults, no one will attempt to deny; but 
who has not faults? That he had man)- virtues, all who 
knew him bear testimon\-. 

During our long journey tlirough the sunny vSouthland, 
and especially when we reached his native State and Con- 
gressional district, the people gathered in vast multitudes, 
regardless of party or sect, to view the funeral train and to 
show respect to the remains of their Representative and 
friend. Thousands of people all along the route through 
Texas at every station stood with uncovered heads to pay 
the last sad tribute of regard to our departed friend and 
brother. 

When the funeral train arrived at Cuero, the beautiful 
little city where for so many years he had resided with his 
interesting family, every business house was closed, and the 
people turned out en masse to receive the mortal remains 
of their neighbor and friend. It was, indeed, a sad home- 
coming. It was a great and sad bereavement to his stricken 
family. But the high respect and love borne for him by 
those who knew him best were shown on cver\- hand. 



Address of J\fr. Mihifs of MichigcDi. ^j 

His funeral was largely attended, not onh' b)' the people 
of his Congressional district, but h\ proniinent men through- 
ont the State. The governor of Texas, together with his 
staff, came to pay their last respects. 

The Catholic bishop of the diocese and other clergy came 
to assist at his funeral and to give words of consolation and 
cheer to his bereaved family, and thousands of men and 
women, representing all classes of people, stood around the 
open grave and dropped a silent tear to his memory. 

Nothing we can say or do here to-dav will add to or take 
from the record he made for himself and his countr\' during 
that long period in which he was in its .service. We can 
only pay our last tribute to his memory. 

He has gone to that home beyond the great river, and 
where in the course of nature we, too, will soon follow him. 

Let us remember all that was good and true in his nature, 
and forget those frailties and shortcomings which univer- 
sally afflict mankind, and from which none of us escape. 

Farewell, our brother ! Sleep peacefully beneath thy 
native sod. Sleep on until that great day when all who 
sleep .shall arise and be judged by a righteous judgment 
by Him who knoweth our inmost motives and actions, and 
who rewardeth accordin"- to merit. Again, farewell ! 



48 Life and Character of IVil/iaiii H. Grain. 



Address of Mr. Crowley. 

Mr. Crowley. Mr. Speaker, the custom ijrevailiiig in 
the House of Representatives, when Death stalks in its 
midst and carries away any of its members, to memorialize 
the life, character, and doings of the dead is a beautiful one, 
notwithstanding the manifest disposition of many distin- 
guished members of this body to abolish memorial services. 
I still say it is a beautiful custom, and long may it last! 

Tlie man whose memory we honor to-day by this custom, 
William Henry Grain, was born in the city of Galveston, 
Tex., November 25, 1848. He was the first native son of 
the Lone Star State who had the distinction of representing 
this great State in Congress, and until this Congress the 
only one. His father dying in Galveston, in 1854 he was 
sent to relatives residing in New York City, who placed 
him at the Christian Brothers' school until he was 14, 
when he entered St. Francis Xavier College, and graduated 
from that famous institution of learning July i, 1867, being 
valedictorian of his class. 

After an absence of twelve years in the North, young 
Crain returned to Texas. For two years he lived on a 
ranch, worked as a cowboy, rode wild horses and drove 
cattle, and performed all the duties pertaining to a cowboy 
on a ranch; but, growing tired of that life, he moved to 
Indianola, then a thriving city in Texas, and there taught 
school. While teaching, he studied law with Messrs. 
vStockdale & Proctor, and was admitted to the bar and 
licensed to practice in 1871. 

In July, 1878, he married Miss Angelina G. Mitchell, 



Address of Mr. Crow/ey of Texas. 49 

daughter of Ca^jt. I. N. Mitchell, of Indianola. The result 
of this union, living to-day, is six children, four boys and 
two girls, namely : Frank, Viva, William Henry, James 
Kerr, Newton Mitchell, and Mary, varying in age from 
7 to 21 years. 

In 1872 he was elected district attorney of the Twenty- 
third judicial district and served until 1876. In this posi- 
tion he, by his brilliancy and versatility, soon attracted 
attention, making for himself in this office a splendid record. 
When he entered on the discharge of the duties of his office, 
the country was overrun with malefactors of every descrip- 
tion. When he retired from office, nearly all such characters 
had left that section of the country, and law had taken the 
place of lawlessness. Owing to the arduous duties attend- 
ant upon this position, and being somewhat shattered in 
health, he refused a reelection to the office of district attor- 
ney, but accepted a nomination by the Democratic party as 
- State senator to represent the Seventh district, to which 
position he was elected practically without opposition. In 
that body he was an active worker, taking high rank for 
a young man, and even at that time was looked upon as 
one of the coming men of the State. Owing to change of 
residence, he resigned after a single session. 

He then removed to Hallettsville and practiced his pro- 
fession with Col. S. C. Patten for four years. Here he was 
successful, and soon built up a large and lucrative practice. 
While an active member of the Democratic party, and 
always useful and untiring in his efforts for his ambitious 
friends, he was not an aspirant for any office, but was pre- 
vailed upon on account of his oratorical abilitv to serve as 
an elector for the State at large on the Hancock ticket 

in 1880. 

H. Doc. 429 4 



50 Life and Character of J I 'illiain H. Craiu. 

Prior to 1882 he removed to Cuero, Dewitt County, which 
under the apportionment of 1881 was placed in the Seventh 
Congressional district. Here he formed a law partnership 
with the Honorable Rudolph Kleberg, who was recently 
elected to fill his unexpired term in this Congress. While 
this partnership was never dissolved, it was merely nominal 
after his election to Congress in 1884. He represented the 
Seventh Congressional district continiiously until 1892, 
when a redistricting of the State placed him in the Elev- 
enth. This last district he represented since its formation. 
He never attended but one convention at which he was a 
candidate, notwithstanding that at times there was a good 
deal of opposition. He was elected to the Forty-ninth, 
Fiftieth, Fifty-first, Fifty-second, Fifty-third, and Fifty- 
fourth Congresses. At the expiration of this Congress it 
was his purpose, had he lived, to decline further service in 
public life, and so announced to his constituenc)' several 
months prior to his death. His most bitter enemies have' 
always accorded to him honest}' of purpose and the courage 
of his convictions. 

He possessed the love and confidence of his constituents 
to a remarkable degree, and was a political power in his 
section of the State. He was an able lawyer, a forceful 
and eloquent speaker, and charmed all with his magnetism 
and close reasoning. He was open and candid, and never 
hesitated to express his opinion. 

On the 4th of February, just six da)s before his death, 
he made a beautiful impromptu s^Deech — his last on the 
floor of this House — which was characteristic of the man, as 
it was an appeal for the charitable institutions of the Dis- 
trict of Columbia. It is a literary gem, equal to anything 



Address of Mr. Crozvley of Texas. 51 

I have ever read, which I quote from the Congressional 
Record : 

Mr. Chairman, going back thirty- or thirt^'-five years, a war 
was waged for the dissolution of this Union. Soldiers innumer- 
able on both sides of Mason and Dixon's line flocked to the 
standards of what they considered right. The reverberations 
of cannon echoed down the valleys of \'irginia. Swords and 
muskets asserted their supremacy. Brother fought against 
brother; soldier on one side against soldier on the other. As 
the soldiers went down on the side of the Union, there came 
upon the battlefields the white-winged messengers of peace, robed 
in the raiments of mercy and charitj', and manj' a parched tongue 
and parched throat accepted the ministrations of those pure, 
beautiful creatures, who, protected hy soldiers and officers, as 
well as by the President of the United States, the great, grand, 
and lamented Lincoln, came and ministered to them. Was 
there any question then on the part of the gentleman from 
Nebraska as to granting those emissaries of mercj' a commission 
to fulfill their errand to those soldiers ? Dfd he then protest, or did 
those whom he now represents rise in their might and protest 
against the charitable work of those angelic forms in human 
shape? No, Mr. Chairman, not one word of protest was uttered 
then. Yet the representatives of the descendants of the men 
who were assisted hy those lovely women come here to-day and 
protest — in the name of what? Infidelity against religion ! 

Mr. Chairman, in view of the fact that this committee has put 
on record its vote in favor of the appropriation for the National 
Association for the Relief of Destitute Colored Women and 
Children (for which I voted), in \-iew of the fact that that is an 
assertion on our part that the institution is not private in its 
character and is nonsectarian, although according to the state- 
ment of the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations it is 
in no wise different from the one now before us for consideration, 
I fail to see how our Republican brethren can vote against the 
appropriation. 



52 Life and Character of Jl 'illiani H. Craiii. 

His interest in the future development of southwestern 
Texas is shown by the following excerpt from a speech 
delivered at Corpus Christi on Tuesday, March 24, 1891 : 

The people of the North and West want to find a more con- 
genial climate than they now enjoy in their present homes. 
They are well aware that no such climate and soil can be found 
anj-where in the world as are found within the confines of the 
State of Texas. Deep water in itself would not build up and 
develop this country. We had a Northern invasion manj- }-ears 
ago, and our fathers, sons, and brothers bared their breasts to 
repel the invaders. But that era has happily passed, and times 
have changed. We want another Northern invasion, and we 
will receive the invaders with open arms and shouts of joy. We 
want them to come with their wives, families, and kinfolk. 
We want them to come and stay with us — be one of us — and 
help de\-elop the resources of the country. 

The population of Texas has nearly doubled in the last decade, 
and it can go on and double for the next decade and the next 
and the next, and still there will be room for more industrious 
settlers in this grand empire. All these settlers will contribute 
to the wealth and upbuilding of the country, and will furnish 
export cargoes for the ships of the world that will enter our 
deep-water ports a few years hence. Without these settlers 
Texas would not derive any great benefit to the State at large 
from deep water. It is the back country after all that makes 
great cities, and it is the grand back country of the whole Union 
that has created and maintained the large commercial cities 
along the Atlantic seaboard. Without the back country these 
cities could not have been created or maintained. We want the 
hardy young blood of the North and Northwest planted in the 
virgin soil of Texas, and we want lots of it. Give us half a 
million industrious farmers, mechanics, and arti.sans in the next 
few years and southwest Texas will leap forward with a bound 
that will astonish the world. They are surely coming, and j-ou 
should welcome them and bid them join hands with you and 
lend nature a helping hand. Cut up your pastures into small 
tracts, sell them to the man with the hoe, and prosperity will 



Address of Mr. Crozvlcy of Texas. 53 

follow in his tracks. He will have to exchange the products 
of the soil for merchandise brought hither by rail aud water. 
He will raise a family, and every member will be both a partner 
and a consumer, and the wealth of the country will be increased 
proportionately. 

Mr. Grain was a ripe scholar, and shortly before his 
death was paid a compliment by that eininent educationist 
and great scholar, Dr. William Everett, of Massachusetts, in 
reply to a communication from a gentleman in this city, 
who wrote to know if Dr. Everett had been correctly quoted 
in expressing his appreciation of the former's ability to 
handle his mother tongue. This was the repl)-: 

Qrixcv, Mass., Darnihcr 26, i8g§. 

My De.^r Sir: You were not misinformed. My seat was 
very near Mr. Grain's, and I had constant opportunities to 
hear him, both in conversation aud debate. His English was 
simply faultless, copious, correct, natural, without a trace of vul- 
garity, pro\-incialism, or pedantry-, the language of a cultivated 
gentleman, who respected his mother tongue as well as master- 
ing it. I avoid comparisons, but it was a delight to me to hear 
anyone talk whose language would satisfy every community and 
every person whereof English is the nati\'e speech. 
Yours, ver}- truly, 

WiLLI-VM E\'ERETT. 

Edward Smith, Esq. 

The admiration which Mr. Gr.aix had won in early life 
as an entertaining and amiable companion in private societ\' 
increased with his \ears. Those who knew him not within 
the circle of friendship knew him only by halves. He was 
always what he appeared, the scholar and the gentleman, 
the entertaining and instructive comj^anion; polite, yet 
friendly; social, yet respectful. In his friendships he was 
strong, firm, and unalterable. He had great benevolence, 
enlarged ideas of philanthropy, and no tongue or pen can 



54 Z?/i' and Character of William H. Grain. 

do him more justice tlian his own kind deeds for men, 
women, and children, and those deeds are usually outdone 
by the doing. 

He was at his post of duty when suddenly taken ill on 
Thursday afternoon, February 6, suffering severely from a 
cold contracted at the Southern Relief Society ball on the 
night of Februar\- 4, and died of pneumonia on the j\Ion- 
day following, in the meridian of a most useful life. His 
death was a shock to the House, to his constituency, and to 
me a personal bereavement. 

Mr. Grain was not unmindful of his end, 3'et seemed not 
to dread it, but patiently and placidly waited the hour 
appointed to all living, and as the dawn was breaking he 
peacefully passed to eternal rest. Thus died William 
Henry Grain, on Monday, February 10, 1S96. On the 
same night the committee of the two Houses of Gongress 
with the remains of the great Texas statesman started on 
the long sad journey to his far-distant home. 

From Houston his venerable and sorrow-stricken mother, 
with delegations of his friends and constituents from the 
surrounding country, accompanied the body to his home 
and family. As the draped car passed through the towns 
of the district he loved so well, sorrow was plainly seen 
upon the faces of the people, for the voice of their eloquent 
and chivalrous Representative was now hushed forever. 

He was buried in the cemetery at Guero, his home. The 
sun shone bright and clear on that day, but it brought no 
delight to the eyes, no cheer to the hearts, of his friends. 
Flags hung from every pole at half-mast, business was sus- 
pended, and the schools were closed to enable the children 
of his home to look for the last time upon his intellectual 
face and to witness the commitment to Mother Earth of the 



Address of Mr. Crozi'ley of Texas. 55 

body of this noble son of Texas. Tribntes were offered and 
resolutions were adopted throtighont the State expressive 
of the sorrow of the people. Courts were adjourned, and 
respect was paid to his memory by bench, bar, and press. 

Judge Robert B. Green, a distinguished jurist of San 
Antonio, Tex. , said : 

I unhesitatingly say that I believe he is the most brilliant 
man Texas ever sent to Washington. I know of no man upon 
whom nature bestowed more of her gifts, and in an intimate 
acquaintance with him I never knew him to exercise any of his 
great gifts except for the good of his fellow-men. He was very 
strong as an advocate, and particularly strong in legislative and 
parliamentary bodies. His personal magnetism, coupled with 
great abilities, made him a most useful member of Congress, and 
he was of especial value to our section of the State. He 
accomplished and was instrumental in accomplishing many 
works that tend to the material progress of our State, and upon 
many of the future gigantic developments of our particular sec- 
tion the corner stones thereof should have inscribed the name of 
William Henry Crain. 

I can not properly pen the estimate that should be placed 
upon him as a companion, citizen, public servant, and man. It 
would require one of his rare qualities and gifted powers to 
write a suitable eulogy to his memory. Suffice it to say, that 
he used his magnificent endowment bj- nature for the good and 
honor of his State and district, and that he was eminently a 
useful man. 

Judge Thomas M. Paschal, of Texas, a colleague of his 
in the last Congress, wrote thus : 

To say that this gifted and useful son of Texas was without 
faults, faults that marred the harmonious whole and symmetry 
of his character, would be to say what he least of all would have 
had insincerely said of him; but it can be truthfully said that 
the one human being who could most seriously complain of them 
was William Henry Grain himself. Over none in Texas or 
in Congress who have crossed the great river and now rest 
beneath the shade of the trees will the mantle of charity be more 



56 Life a)id Charactci" of ]llllia))i H. Craiii. 

completely drawn than over him. At the foot of none will be laid 
more lasting or genuine tribute; and his friends will ever shed a 
tear as his name is spoken or his words and deeds remembered. 

The press of the State which had honored him, and which 
he had honored, laid tributes of grief and sorrow on his 
bier. I quote the following from the Laredo News : 

To pay tribute to this man is the duty of every man who 
called him friend. To those from whom lie differed, both in 
politics and religion, he accorded the greatest freedom, and 
expected nothing less than he gave, and even Pythias had 
nothing to teach him in friendship. Could it be possible that 
such a man could go to that that mind could not conceive 
without a requiem in moans? "Let the dead past bury its 
dead," and no man who admires all that goes to make up a 
noble manhood will deny the tribute, "This was a man!" 
With all his faults, where shall we find his equal? 

The El Paso Times said : 

His bitterest enemies have alwaj-s accorded to him honesty of 
purpose and the courage of his convictions. Mr. Craix will 
live in the pale moonlight of memory, and his name will shine 
resplendent in the list of patriots who have crossed over the 
river to rest in the shade of the trees. 

To his political promises he was constant as the polar 
star. By his friends, through calm and storm, he stood 
like the granite hills. He knew the people; the people 
knew him. Many times he was their standard bearer. 
He was never defeated, and never surrendered until he 
bowed his head in death. 

And now he sleeps in the breast of the mother State he 
loved and served so well. Farewell, friend Grain! Your 
life's battle is over. May thy soul find sweet rest in the 
.sleep of the dead, and when the morning light breaks on 
resurrection da>-, may your soul ascend to that abode above, 
where all is peace and all is love. 



Address oj Air. Fitzgerald of Alassacliusetls. 57 



Address of Mr, Fitzgerald. 

Mr. Fitzgerald. Mr. Speaker, it was not my privilege 
to enjoy a very intimate acquaintance witli William 
Henry Cr.ain, but the short acquaintance I had with liini 
endeared him to me very strongly. I think I do not go 
beyond the bonnds of reason and fairness when I say that 
he was trnly one of God's noblemen. The gentlemen 
who have preceded me and who have uttered words of 
earnest eulogy were, most of them, much more intimately 
acquainted with him than I was. They have told you, in 
beautiful and expressive language, of his career at college, 
how his kindly nature and his broad and generous sym- 
pathies endeared him to every member of his class, and 
how at that early age he gave promise of future greatness. 
They have followed his course in the days of his early 
manhood in his native State. They have told you of his 
service as district attorney, an office which demands the 
exercise of the best judgment and sometimes of the stern 
.spirit of justice, and they have described how in that 
capacity he was first of all true to the Commonwealth, 
true to the people, and how, regardless of friend or foe, he 
always meted out e.xact justice. They have described his 
career as a leader in the senate of Texas, and told you how 
he then manifested the same abilities and qualities which 
afterwards made him eminent in this House. 

He became a member of this body in the year 1884. By 
his ability, by his knowledge of public affairs, by his wis- 
dom, his forethought, and his judgment he soon became 
a prominent factor in the House of Representatives. I 



58 Life and Character of IVil/iani H. Crain. 

remember when, by reason of ill health, I was absent from 
the deliberations of this body on the occasion of the first 
debate on the District appropriation bill, I read the senti- 
ments spoken by ]\Ir. Crai.x on this floor — words which 
have been quoted by the gentleman who has preceded mc — 
and I remember how proud and happy I felt that there was 
in this Chamber a man holding the same religious views 
which I held, belonging to the same Church to which I 
belonged, who was ready to stand up here to defend her 
principles and defend her sons and daughters when unjustly 
attacked. But that was to be exijected from ]\lr. Crain. 
He was always loyal and devoted to his Church, always 
loyal and devoted to her teachings. In all the debates in 
which he participated in this body he showed himself to 
be one of the keenest observers, one of the best informed 
members, one who had always the interests of the whole 
people in view, one who could at all times be depended 
upon to cast his vote in the interest of justice and of broad 
humanity. 

The gentleman who has preceded me read to the House 
a few moments ago the graceful tribute paid by Dr. 
Everett to the beauty of the diction and the rhetoric 
of Mr. Crain. Nothing that I could say would add to 
that, and I will not attempt to make any addition to it 
other than to say that such a tribute from such a source, 
coming from a man in my own State whose abilities in that 
line are recognized to be among the most eminent in our 
Commonwealth, is highly honorable and must be verv 
gratifying to those who hold the memor\- of Mr. Cr.\ix in 
admiring and aflfectionate remembrance. 

Mr. Speaker, Williaji Henry Crai.n is no more. He 
died in this beautiful cit_\- of Washington during the cold, 



Address of Mr. Fitzgerald of Massachusetts. 59 

bleak days of winter. His body lies entombed beneath 
the green fields of Texas. The flowers of spring now grow 
and blnsh above his grave, and we, the members of this 
House, gather here to-day to pay tribute to his noble 
qualities. In closing, let me say, Mr. Speaker, that it 
seems to me that Boyle O'Reilly typified such a man as 
Mr. Grain most eloquently when he wrote the beautiful 
lines which end — 

Come brothers; here was a teacher, 

And the lessons he taught were good; 
There are no classes or races, 

But one human brotherhood. 

There are no creeds to be oiatlawed, 

No color of skin debarred; 
Mankind is one in his rights and wrongs — 

One right, one hope, one guard. 



6o Life and Character of William H. Craiii. 



Address of Mr, Milliken. 

Mr. Milliken. Mr. Speaker, I was not apprised until a 
few moments before I entered the Hall that there were to 
be eulogies this afternoon upon our departed colleague, 
William Henry Craix, and therefore I have not prepared 
myself to say anything formally; but still I can not forego 
this opportunity of paying my tribute of respect to the 
memory of a man who during more than ten years in this 
House commanded my admiration and affection. My early 
acquaintance with Mr. Grain, upon his entering Con- 
gress, sprang from a ver}- peculiar coincidence. Before he 
was born, and when I had been born but a little while, my 
father, William !\Iilliken, of ]Montville, Me. , went to Texas. 
He built a number of houses at Port Lavaca. During his 
first year there the Comanche Indians, who were then very 
strong and very hostile to the whites, raided the town, 
scalped the men, violated the women, and set the town on 
fire. Those who could do so took to boats and vessels to 
secure their safety. 

On the same boat with my father was a very beautiful and 
accomplished girl. Eight years afterwards, having been 
married, there was born to her a boy; and in the Forty- 
ninth Congress, that boy, having grown to manhood, I met 
as a colleague in the Hall of the House of Representatives. 
It was William H. Cr.\in, our departed colleague and 
friend. His mother, a very charming lady, was in Wash- 
ington several years ago, and recollected the Indian raid 
upon Port Lavaca and all its terrible details, which of course 
were most interesting histor>' to me. The coincidence to 
which I have referred attracted me to j\Ir. Grain, gave me 



Address of Air. Millikcn of Maine. 6l 

a personal interest in him, a feeling of warm friendship for 
him, and I became more intimate with him on that account 
than I should otherwise have been. It was an intimacy 
that was always most gratifying to myself, for I found him 
to be one of the most lovable characters that I had ever had 
the good fortune to know. 

Mr. Grain was a brave, honest, earnest man. His hand- 
some face, his fine physique, his manly bearing, his uniform 
courtesy and kindness, and his generous nature could not 
fail to make him attractive to everyone who had a heart 
and a mind to admire that which is good and beautiful. 

Even if I were ever so well prepared, I am sure, Mr. 
Speaker, that I could not say anything that would be satis- 
factory to myself on this occasion. There are times in 
human life when the feelings which well up in the heart 
can not find adequate expression in words. When the 
devout Christian stands by the altar and partakes of the 
bread and wine which to him, if to no one else, is the blood 
and body of the Saviour whom he worships, and in whose 
pure life and painful, tragic death he thinks he sees his only 
hope of a happy life beyond the grave, he does it in sub- 
dued tones or in silence. When the IMohammedan, at the 
setting of the sun, kneels down and makes his orisons, he 
does it in utterance inaudible; and when a man stands by 
the deathbed of a friend, or thinks of him as we do to-day of 
having gone over the dark and shadowy river, tears alone 
are his natural language. So, while I would gladly pay to 
our deceased and lamented colleague a tribute such as I ieel 
and such as he deserves, it is not possible for me to do so. 

He has gone to return to us no more upon the shores of 
time. We shall see his incomings and outgoings no longer. 
His eloquent voice has been hushed. The charm of his 



! 



62 Life and Character of William H. Grain. 

material presence we shall not feel here again. But I know 
that the influence of his noble qualities of mind and heart 
will ever linger with us as lingers the perfume of a sweet 
flower even when we have long parted from it. We will 
cherish his memor\' as a possession most dear to us. 

Let us hope and believe that his eyes have opened to the 
morning light of a never-ending day. Let us have faith 
that he dwells beneath the smile of that Divine Power who 
created life, not to be swallowed up in death, but to be 
renewed, purified, and enlarged in a realm of clearer light 
and broader vision, where the noblest aspirations and grand- 
est dreams of our lives here shall become our assured and 
beautiful realities. 



Address of Mr. II '///is of Delazvarc. 63 



ADDRESS OF Mr, Willis. 

Mr. Willis. Mr. Speaker, I liad not such an acquaint- 
ance with the gentleman whose memory we mourn to-day 
as would warrant me in any detailed remarks in the way of 
a funeral oration or eulogium upon his character and mem- 
ory. What I have heard others say concerning him cer- 
tainly has been calculated to bring a sentiment of experience 
or complacency to our minds in connection with him; in 
the first place, that he was a gallant nran, and in the next 
that he had faith; and if these were possessed by him he 
fulfilled and carried out the requirements of two of the 
great cardinal \irtues taught in the Divine Word. We have 
been instructed to add to our faith, as the best of virtues 
which man can possess, manliness and courage; and certainly 
there can be nothing more appropriate for a man who rep. 
resents and loves the people than to exhibit the spirit, the 
sentiment, and the practice of bravery and manliness. 

Mr. Speaker, I am always delighted whenever I see among 
public men that generous tone of bearing toward their asso- 
ciates, that unselfish attitude of action and opinion, which 
indicate to my mind the possession of true manliness. 

As I said on a former occasion, greatness in human life 
is not to be measured alone by intellectual powers. It 'is a 
faculty that concerns the heart as well as the brain. A man 
may not even have a great soul to be a great man. He may 
have very many infirmities and possess many peccadillos; 
but if the soul is broad, full of humanity and unselfishness 
and of charity, he has in his heart all the elements that 
make a great man. And then, if he has a broad intellect. 



64 Life and Character of II 'illia)u II. Craiii. 

with discriminating, comprehensive faculties of the mmd 
and acumen to perceive circumstances, conditions, or situ- 
ations and make them available to be brought to the inter- 
ests of human nature, I think he needs no qualifications 
that go to make up a great man. And in so far as this was 
a manly man, a man of that character, he had at least the 
elements of greatness in his composition. So far as I had 
an opportunity of becoming acquainted with him, I found 
him brave and intellectual. 

I have been pleased, Mr. Speaker, on these funeral 
occasions, with the disposition of kindliness which has 
been manifested on the part of the members of this body to 
speak well of those who have left us. In voting and speak- 
ing upon a resolution in regard to a proposition to do 
away with the memorial services, such as those which Con- 
gress has been in the habit of practicing in the past, I took 
the ground, and made remarks touching the point, that if 
nothing else were to be gained than an opportunity to speak 
well of those who have left us, it seemed to me that the 
exercises would be well worth the trouble and the time. 

I said that public men, and particularl}- men in delibera- 
tive bodies, were too likely to find out what was objection- 
able and to enlarge upon the shortcomings of their confreres 
and fellows, but that these funeral occasions afforded 
especially favorable opportunities for magnifying what 
they had found — if they never had before acknowledged 
it — that was good and broad and great in their departed 
fellows. I was impressed with this idea during the serv- 
ices that were held the other day. These manly intellects, 
broad hearts, affectionate natures which we find in repre- 
sentative men, such as those that have passed away from 
these scenes and are sleeping the last long sleep of death — 



Address of Mr. Willis of Delazcare. 65 

I say these broad intellects, ever seeking to know more and 
more of the mysterious and the mighty, and these enlarged 
affectional impulses of the human soul, to me are presump- 
tive arguments in favor of another lite. 

I do not and can not believe that so much of good material, 
intellectual, affectional, spiritual, social, was ever intended 
to be interwrought into a human structure for the existence 
and the limitations of only three score years and ten. When 
an architect builds a magnificent temple, he lays the foun- 
dation deep in the soil, constructed of impregnable and 
lasting marble, spreads the architrave and extends the walls, 
so that it shall not be a thing of a season; but, with all its 
grandeur and costliness and splendor, the idea underlies the 
whole operation that it is to last for generations, and he 
would, if he could, like the ancient Egyptians, aim at 
immortality with material things. I can not believe that 
Almighty God, the skillful and eternal Creator, who has 
constructed the strange architecture of the little pebble 
and the fine fiber and fabric of the wing of the tiny insect 
which can keep its place in the pathway of the eagle 
through the storm — that that Divine hand, with all its 
skill, ever incorporated so much valuable material in a 
human life to let it cease utterly at the end of three-score 
years and ten. 

I wanted to say this thing here in this House, and that 
was the purpose I had in rising. I believe that death is not 
the end of all things; that it is not the destruction of the 
living power; that the fact that we live now is a presump- 
tion that we shall live hereafter, unless it can be shown that 
death is the destruction of the living power, and I think 
every presumption is against it. And though we may not 
be willing to go into the fine-spun philosophy of theology, 
H. Doc. 429 5 



66 Life a)id Character of Ullliam H. Crain. 

I think this presumption lays itself at the door of the com- 
mon sense of every man. There is too much in us to pass 
away with a season. These men who have left us will live 
again somewhere, in the undiscovered countr}- to which we 
are hastening; and it is a good thing for us to remember 
that we are mortal and that we are immortal, and that our 
immortality carries with it a responsibility which is as 
becoming and as fitting and as effective in a legislator as in 
any other man in the community. 

I have long since thought, before it was ever my honored 
privilege to appear in this august presence, that it ought to 
be considered a great functional privilege of a legislature 
such as this, a National Legislature, to hold up and have a 
very high standard of manhood. I think we ought to be 
above any small or meanly selfish thing; that we ought, 
indeed, to learn to ascend the elevation of human excellence 
which has been so beautifully marked out in those striking 
words in Scripture, adding to faith "virtue; and to virtue 
knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temper- 
ance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness 
brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity;" 
that every man should make an earnest and honest daily 
attempt to ascend this sublime elevation, and when he gets 
at the summit he ought to find himself with his feet on the 
neck of his passions. In that lofty height to which he has 
attained he ought to feel that he is really himself a con- 
queror of the world through faith and virtue. And it is my 
honest desire that the American Congress shall have just 
as much of this grand principle as is possible under the 
circumstances and environments of public life. 

Mr. Pendleton. Mr. Speaker, I offer the resolutions 
which I send to the Clerk's desk. 



Address of Mr. IVillis of Dclazvare. 67 

The Clerk read as follows : 

Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of 
the death of our esteemed colleague and friend, William Henry 
Grain, late a Representative from the State of Texas. 

Resolved, That the sympathies of the members of this House 
be extended to the family of Mr. Grain in their bereavement, 
and that the Glerk of the House transmit to them a copy of 
these resolutions. 

Resolved, That as a further mark of respect to the deceased, 
the House do uow adjourn. 

The resolutions were agreed to. 

Accordingly (at 4 o'clock and 5 minutes p. m.) the House, 
in accordance with the special order, adjourned until 8 
o'clock p. m. 



\ 



Proceedings in the Senate, 

February io, 1S96. 

'A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. 
W. J. Browning, its Chief Clerk, communicated to the 
Senate the intelligence of the death of Hon. William 
Henry Crain, late a member of the House from the State 
of Texas, and transmitted the resolutions of the House 
tliereon. 

The Vice-President. The Chair lays before the Senate 
resolutions from the House of Representatives, which will 
be read. 

The Secretary read the resolutions, as follows: 

In the House of Representatives, 

February 10, 18 g6. 

Resolved, Th.it the House has heard with profound sorrow of 
the death of Hon. William Henry Grain, late a Representa- 
tive from the State of Texas. 

Resolved, That a committee of nine members of the House be 
appointed by the Speaker, to act with such Senators as may be 
selected, to attend the funeral of the deceased ; that the Sergeant- 
at-Arms of the House shall take order for superintending the 
funeral of the deceased at his' home, and that the necessary 
expenses attending the execution of this order shall be paid out 
of the contingent fund of the House. 

Resolved, That, as a mark of respect to Mr. Grain's memory, 
the House do now adjourn. 

Resolved, That the Glerk communicate these resolutions to 
the Senate. 

Mr. Mills. Mr. President, I offer for adoption the res- 
olutions which I send to the desk. 

69 



JO Proceedings in the Senate. 

The Vice-President. The resolutions submitted by the 
Senator from Texas will be read. 

The Secretary read the resolutions, as follows : 

Resolved, That the Senate has heard with deep sensibilit>- the 
announcement of the death of Hon. William Henry Grain, 
late a Representative from the State of Texas. 

Resolved, That a committee of three Senators be appointed 
by the Presiding Officer, to join the committee appointed on the 
part of the House of Representatives, to take order for superin- 
tending the funeral of the deceased. 

Resolved, That the Secretary communicate the5e resolutions 
to the House of Representatives. 

The Vice-President. The question is on the adoption 
of the resolutions submitted Ijy the Senator from Te.xas. 

The resolutions were unanimoush- agreed to; and the 
Vice-President appointed as the committee on the part of 
the Senate under the second resolution Mr. Mills, Mr. Gal- 
linger, and Mr. Kyle. 

Mr. Mills. Mr. President, as a further mark of respect, 
I move that the Senate do now adjourn. 

The motion was unanimously agreed to; and (at 3 o'clock 
and 5 minutes p. m.) the Senate adjourned until to-morrow, 
Tuesday, February 11, 1896, at 12 o'clock meridian. 



MEMORIAL ADDRESSES. 

May i6, li 

Mr. Chilton. Mr. President, I submit the resolutions 
which I send to the desk, and ask for their adoption. 

The Presiding Officer. The resolutions submitted by 
the Senator from Texas will be read. 

The Secretary read the resolutions; and they were unani- 
mously agreed to, as follows : 

Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow of 
the death of Hon. Willi.\m Henry Grain, late a Represent- 
ative from the State of Texas. 

Resolved. That the business of the Senate be now suspended, 
in order that fitting tribute be paid to his memory. 

Resolved, That the sympathies of the members of the Senate 
be tendered to the family of Mr. Grain in this bereavement, 
and that the Secretary of the Senate transmit to them a copy 
of these resolutions. 

71 



7^ Life and Character of William H. Craiii, 



Address of Mr. Chilton. 

Mr. Chilton. Mr. President, I did not know Mr. Crain 
as intimately as some of those who, like my colleague, 
served with him in the other branch of Congress. We 
lived in different sections of our far-reaching Texas, and I 
believe he had been both district attorney and State senator 
before I made his personal acquaintance. 

I remember well, sir, the occasion when I first saw him. 
It was at a Democratic State convention in Texas in 1880. 
A large crowd had assembled, and at some peculiarly 
stormy moment in the proceedings a tall and handsome 
man arose in the rear part of the hall, with a tone and 
manner which attracted instant attention, and addressed 
himself to the work of extricating the convention from 
its confusion. Some one who sat near me gave the name 
of the speaker as that of Mr. Crain, and the impression 
which the episode made upon m)- mind has never been 
effaced. In tliinking of him, I always like to look back 
to that day. I never saw a brighter face or keener eye; 
I never saw a presence more imperial; I never heard a 
diction more felicitous and clear. Hi.s^ speech was short, 
but it was complete. There was no waste of gesticulation, 
no waste of language, no waste of opportunity. It was all 
over quickly. Other .scenes rapidly succeeded as the busi- 
ness of the convention was transacted, but none which are 
recalled with the vividness of that which I have described. 
I was then a young practitioner of the law, held no office, 
and was barely beginning a limited experience in politics, 
but I remember tliat the conclusion was then fastened 



Address of Mr. Chilton of Texas. 73 

upon my mind, that Mr. Grain was suited to and sure of 
an eminent career. 

It is always to me, sir, a most interesting study to 
analyze the lives of public men and endeavor to single 
out the particular qualities which have been the sources 
of their distinction. In ]\Ir. Grain's case I would say it 
came, first, from that accomplishment which has been 
noticed by so many, his mastery of undiluted English 
expression; next, from his voice of music and of power, 
and, lastly, from an overflow of animal spirits developed 
into constant vivacity and creating a social charm which, 
according to \\\y observation of mankind, neither study 
nor learning nor experience nor even good temper alone 
can altogether supply. 

Possessing this combination of personal and oratorical 
gifts to which I have alluded, it may well be supposed 
that Mr. Cr.-\in was specially strong as a political can- 
vasser. He could interest in private conversation, he 
could electrify in public debate, and thus it was that, 
though his adversaries were many, he was triumphantly 
elected to Gongress term after term, and continued to his 
death a favorite of the people. 



74 Life and Character of William H, Grain. 



ADDRESS OF Mr. CAFFERY. 

Mr. Caffery. Mr. President, to adequately portray the 
cliaracter and fittingly eulogize the virtues of the dead 
require an intimate acquaintance with the individual while 
alive. I lack the essential element of that acquaintance to 
do full honor to the memory of William Henry Grain. 
The only time I was thrown in contact with Mr. Grain 
was on the train from New Orleans to Washington several 
years ago. During that journey there was between us a 
free interchange of thought and a candid expression of 
opinion on many of the leading topics of the day. 

The Southern character is distinguished for absence of 
form and freedom from restraint. When intelligent gentle- 
men of high social or official position are casually brought 
together, with rapid insight they correcth- estimate each 
other's character; with sagacious confidence they lay the 
foundation for a friendship which in time frequently warms 
into the closest intimacy; there is neither that reserve which 
repels advance nor that caution which seeks seclusion. 

During the journey referred to I observed in Mr. Grain 
a character that was chivalric, an intellect that was solid, 
yet brilliant. His versatility was remarkable; his power 
of description graphic; his opinions just. In his bearing, 
there was an urbanity of manner which charmed his com- 
panions; in his discourse, a poetry of expression which 
almost glowed into verse. 

But, sir, I was not fortunate enough to enter the sanctu- 
ary where mind fully discloses itself to mind and heart to 
heart — the .sacred sanctuary devoted to human friendship; 



Address of Mr. Caffery of Louisiana. 75 

and therefore tenderer hands than mine have laid tlieir 
tribute on his grave, and more loving hearts than mine 
have done honor to his memory. Though this be so, a 
Louisianian brings this sincere offering to his name and 
fame and lays it on the grave of the noble Texan. 

Mr. President, "Noscitur a sociis" is a maxim as true in 
ethics as in law. Judged bv this maxim, the young and 
promising statesman was only unfortunate in his untimeh' 
death. He had "won golden opinions from all sorts of 
men." His associates in the House of Representatives 
with one accord honor his memory and grieve for his loss. 
With affectionate zeal they stamp his character and his 
ability with the seal of their love and respect. 

Where he lived and where best known there were tears 
for the death "that did sit on his brow like an untimely 
frost;" there was love for the citizen and praise for the 
Representati\'e, and there the memory of his worth will 
long outlive the generation which cherishes it. 



76 IJje and Character of William H. Grain. 



Address of Mr, Mills, 

Mr. Mills. Mr. President, on the loth day of February 
last, in the hours of the early morning, William Hexry 
Grain, a Representative from the Eleventh Texas district, 
in the forty-eighth year of his age, joined the innumerable 
caravan that is ever journeying toward the unknown land. 
For twelve years he had been honored by the people of his 
district as their Representative in the National Legislature. 
It is useless to inquire how well he discharged the duties 
of the high station he occupied. His constituents have 
answered all such questions by their cordial indorsement at 
each recurring election. From the beginning to the sad 
ending of his public career he held without one wavering 
moment not only the confidence but the affection of the 
people among whom he lived, for whom he labored, and 
beside whose departed loved ones he has been laid to sleep 
until the gray dawn of another morning, when those that 
sleep shall awake, and awake, as he believed, to another, a 
higher, and a better life. When one's life has been rounded 
out to hoary hairs and furrowed cheeks and his head is then 
bowed upon the bed of death, there is a consolation that 
comes to the hearts of loved ones and friends in the con- 
sciousness of the fact that he has accomplished the work 
that the Master assigned. But when we stand by the open 
grave of a faithful public servant who has fallen in the iull 
vigor of physical manhood and great intellectual endow- 
ments, there is a touch of deeper sadness, a pang of keener 
grief. It is in the shadow of that grief all Texas stands 
to-day. From the Sabine to the Rio Grande and from No 
Mans Land to tlie Gulf of Mexico he was known to all. 



Address of Mr. Mills of Texas. 77 

In the interesting and sometimes angry contentions in 
reference to the adjnstment of public questions he was 
always a participant, and one who was always ready to give 
a reason for the faith that was in hini. In an intellectual 
encounter he was not an adversary to be despised, and the 
foeman who made the mistake of underestimating his 
strength always paid the penalty for his rashness before 
the encounter ended. At 24 years of age he was elected 
district attorney of the district in which he lived. This 
position presented to him a splendid field for the display of 
his intellectual gifts and attainments. In this arena he was 
constantly pitted against the ablest and best lawyers of his 
district. It would be fulsome flattery to sa>- that he alwa>-s 
came off first best in encounters with such a bar as that 
district had. But daily battle with strong men improved 
and whetted his own intellect and enabled him to mount 
faster and higher the eminence whose summit he was 
struggling to crown. 

In the exercise of his official duties as an officer of the 
State he was in constant touch with the people. The circle 
of his acquaintance was ever expanding, and as it widened 
his hold grew stronger. He was endowed with a bright, 
quick mind, and with an ever present wit and a generous 
warmth of disposition. He could prosecute without per- 
secuting. He could differ sharply without offending those 
with whom he differed. There were genial sunshine and 
wannth displayed in his intercourse with all that attached 
his fellow-citizens to him, and he died without knowing 
how strong that attachment was. 

In 1884 he was chosen the Representative in Congress of 
the district, which then bristled with men of ability, the 
constant friendship of all of whom he held to the last 



78 Life and Character of William H. Craiii. 

moment of liis life; and when he annonnced some weeks 
before his death his determination to retire to private life, 
his resolntion met their remonstrance from every part of 
his district. They believed, as did all his friends, that 
the theater of his nsefnlness was widening; that there were 
higher altitudes to which fortune was inviting him and on 
which the pride and affections of his people were anxious 
he should stand. But he felt that twelve years of the very 
vigor of his life he had given to his country, and he should 
now look to the interests of those who were dependent on 
him for support. His earthly goods were limited, and he 
felt that before he died he should better the pecuniary 
situation of his loved ones. In a conversation with him 
only a few days before his death he told me of his purpose 
to quit public life. In common with other friends, I remon- 
strated with him against his decision. But he was immov- 
able. In a few days after our conversation he was taken 
away from his people, his family, and his friends. He fell 
at his post and in the discharge of the duties imposed upon 
him by his fellow-citizens. When his death was announced, 
there were no mourners more sincere than those among 
whom he was born and reared. The\- were not only proud 
of him as their Representative, but they loved him, and 
loved him with an intensity and depth of feeling that is 
not often the fortune of public servants. While he had 
every evidence of their confidence in his integrity and fidel- 
ity- in his discharge of public trusts, yet he never knew 
how deep was that tenderness of personal attachment that 
bound them to him. These are virtues that only manifest 
their full strength when the cherished object is destroyed 
and the image passes forever from our sight. Then the 
foundations are torn up, and all hearts pour their grief into 



Address of Mr. Mills of Texas. 79 

the grave of the loved and lost and speak only with flowers 
and shronds and tears. 

Mr. Grain had the advantages of a thorough education. 
To these he added the forces acquired by a life of reading 
and study. His mind was strong, active, and bright. 
When his lirain was aroused in earnest discussion, he com- 
manded the clearest and most forceful words in the Engli.sh 
tongue, and, like a skilled archer, shot every arrow to the 
mark he meant. When he felt it necessary by ridicule 
to puncture a fallacy, he made his arrows laugh as they 
flew. When it was necessarv, he was logical, analytical, and 
serious, and developed an idea with faultless argument. 
He had what men call moral courage — that power that 
enables a man to stand by convictions when enveloped in 
clouds as well as when in sunshine. An open, frank, and 
happy disposition attracted friends, and held them when 
they came. His hold upon them was manifested when his 
remains were carried to his home for interment. His con- 
stituents, without regard to party, met in public assemblies 
and expressed their sorrow at his loss. From every part of 
his district they came with flowers to cover the grave in 
which was to rest the neighbor, the friend, and faithful 
public servant. 

And there we leave him to sleep on till the mortal shall 
put on immortality and the dead shall wake to sleep no 
more. 

I move, as an additional mark of respect to the memorv 
of the deceased, that the Senate do now adjourn. 

The motion was unanimously agreed to; and (at 3 o'clock 
and 50 minutes p. m.) the Senate adjourned until Monday, 
May 18, 1896, at 12 o'clock meridian. 

O 



I 



